Rotten to the Core

[Implosion]

Chapter 4: Hard Reset
823 A.S.

"Danny booooy...wake up...we've got a job to do!"

~Wha...what...- He wasn't able to feel most of his body, he couldn't see either, but he knew someone was next to him.

-I said, wake the hell up, Daniels, we've got a job to do! - Scarlet was almost whispering the words, though it felt like her voice was amplified a thousand times. Each sound guaranteed a devastating jolt of pain. - Come on, activate his implants! We can't risk to wait any longer, do it!

Suddenly, he felt alive. He could feel every muscle in his body, every molecule. But there was more. He knew the Core had some good augmentations, but this was beyond anything they had done to a human before. His hearing, his sight and the fact he easily tore the restraints and tossed the doctor five meters away. It all indicated about something much more advanced. He could hear the beating hearts of those around him, he could see space radiation...either he was on a batch of very hard drugs or...drugs...Cardamine. The crave wasn't gone, although he was out of god knows how long, they most likely kept his addiction in check. Scarlet has moved to the far side of the room, carefully working a console. She didn't seem worried, so Jack approached her and reached out his hand, in an attempt to put it on her shoulder. He never got to do it. A few loud bangs and his right shoulder had much more holes than it should. Scarlet didn't show any emotion, she just turned back to the console as the man collapsed to his knees, expecting a surge of pain. But no pain came. Neither did blood. Instead, an inhuman blue liquid poured out and a few seconds later, the flesh regenerated around the metal exoskeleton. Daniels stood up and smirked.

-Yea-hah-hah. Neat trick, Jess. Now if you don't want to undergo the same set of tests, tell me, what have you done to me? -He leaned towards a medical cabinet, completely oblivious of the fact he had no clothes on.

-Now, first of all, Jack-o, put some clothes on, okay? Only then I'll give you the long story. - She patiently waited as the man wrapped a bloody towel around his waist and continued -Right, after your...space walk, we first changed the lungs and the heart, fully cybernetic. Unfortunately, due to the extreme shock and cold, your whole body was...more or less gone. But, we've managed to preserve some of the original parts. Your brain, kidneys, liver, your...reproductive organs, they're okay. We've kept what matters, or well, what we could salvage. Since you managed to slam into an asteroid and break most of your bones, we had to change those as well, healing them was deemed... ineffective. We replaced them with lightweight alloys instead, very strong stuff, I assure you. And only recently, we outfitted you with new eyes and a few more components vital for your senses. We've managed to...integrate a few dampeners in your nervous system as well, so it won't go insane. As a side effect, you can switch pain on and off, but only for shorts periods. Too much without pain and when it's back on, your brain goes into shock and you die. What's more...ah, yes. I've also... "infected" your blood with my very own nanites, although they seem to perform much better when there's cardamine in circulation. You damned junkie. You should be able to outperform me within three years. Well...that covers most of it. The rest it too complicated for you to understand and most likely, to comprehend. Any questions?

The man narrowed his eyes and stared right into hers.

-I've got three questions for you Scarlet. Where, when and who. - He smirked once more and elaborated-Where are we, when are we and who the hell is leading the Core with us two gone.


-The Battleshark, Omicron Tau way past the minefield, 823 A.S, Erik Nodtviet.


-Who's that guy, even? Where's Damoclas, where's DeVirgo? Where are the old boys?And five years? Damn...also, why the hell are we here, Scarlet?- Daniels was getting worried at this point. -Why were they so far out? Why not stay in Delta? Where's the Core?

-They're all gone, dead or worse. Don't you remember? Guildmaster Stoat and the others? Don't you remember leading the Core? - Scarlet was genuinely amused now.

Jessica, what are you on about? I flew off the bridge when the marines shot the windows instead of you. I've been out ever since. You said it yourself, get your crap together, don't mess with me.

-Oh, oh you thought that was what I meant by spacewalk?HA! When the marines shot up the bridge, I pulled you in before thirty seconds had passed, you were fine. But there was another particularly hazardous event after that. Don't you remember the "Deadly" going down? Jack, the Destroyer was shot to pieces and you spent more than ten minutes in space with an ruptured suit. It was an inside job, someone from within took you out. Or at least, they were convinced they did. I've taken measures to make sure of that. Plus,we needed a steady supply of cardamine, so... this was the best spot.

Whoa, Danny boy. You're in deep again. And again, a woman saves your sorry ass. It seems like you have acquired yet another bad habit, my man.


Shut up! - He yelled but then realized Jessica was looking at him, partly weirded out, partly surprised. - No, not you, god damn it. Okaaay... you mentioned it was an inside job, who did it? Are they dead yet, they better be dead, Scarlet!`

All in due time, Jack. Now, we must get our asses back to Delta and see what's what. I suspect infectees tried to off you. Your stance towards the nomads and their pets has been rather...drastic, even for someone in the Core. I wouldn't be surprised if they are behind it and I'd love to teach them some manners. But, let's not get ahead of ourselves, we must return the Battlesha...oh crap...

The alarm has gone off and the lighting on the ship switched to the dark blue combat preset. Moments later, the Battleshark was rocked by a pair of violent blasts and the lights went off. The only things visible in the room were two pairs of glowing cybernetic blue eyes.

"Hey Scar, it's show time! Time to kick some ass, yeah?!"

You're goddamn right it is!
You're goddamn right it is!

Scarlet and the voice in Daniel's head somehow synced up and the man charged out of the laboratory, still in his bloodied towel. He was hellbent on exacting his revenge, but right now, survival was a priority.